Blog Tour: Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Hey y'all! I'm celebrating the recent publication of Devil's Daughter, Lisa Kleypas's latest novel in the Ravenels series. See more below!

About the Book:

Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Book Five of the Ravenels series

Publisher: Avon Books

Publication Date: February 19, 2019

Official Summary:

Although beautiful young widow Phoebe, Lady Clare, has never met West Ravenel, she knows one thing for certain: he’s a mean, rotten bully. Back in boarding school, he made her late husband’s life a misery, and she’ll never forgive him for it. But when Phoebe attends a family wedding, she encounters a dashing and impossibly charming stranger who sends a fire-and-ice jolt of attraction through her. And then he introduces himself...as none other than West Ravenel.

West is a man with a tarnished past. No apologies, no excuses. However, from the moment he meets Phoebe, West is consumed by irresistible desire...not to mention the bitter awareness that a woman like her is far out of his reach. What West doesn’t bargain on is that Phoebe is no straitlaced aristocratic lady. She’s the daughter of a strong-willed wallflower who long ago eloped with Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent—the most devilishly wicked rake in England.

Before long, Phoebe sets out to seduce the man who has awakened her fiery nature and shown her unimaginable pleasure. Will their overwhelming passion be enough to overcome the obstacles of the past?

Only the devil’s daughter knows…

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | The Ivy Bookshop

About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author LISA KLEYPAS graduated from Wellesley College with a political science degree. She is a RITA® Award-winning author of both historical romance and contemporary women's fiction. Her novels are published in twenty-eight different languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband Gregory and their two children.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

The Excerpt:

“If you have any misguided thoughts about taking me into your bed, you would find it a vastly mediocre experience. I’d be on you like a crazed rabbit, and half a minute later the whole thing would be over. I used to be a proficient lover, but now I’m a burnt-out libertine whose only remaining pleasure is breakfast food. Speaking of which—”

Phoebe reached for him, brought herself up hard against him, and interrupted him with her mouth. West flinched as if scalded and held very still in the manner of a man trying to withstand torture. Undeterred, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as passionately as she could, touching her tongue to his stiff lips. The feel and taste of him was exhilarating. Suddenly he responded with a primitive grunt and his mouth clamped on hers, wringing sensation from her with demanding pressure. Forcing her lips apart, he searched her with his tongue the way she remembered, and it felt so good, she thought she might faint. A whimper rose from her throat, and he licked and bit gently at the sound and sealed their mouths together in a deep, insatiable kiss that involved his lips, breath, hands, body, soul.

Whatever it might be like to go to bed with this man . . . it would be anything but mediocre.

Reread Campaign and Giveaway: The Triumphant by Lesley Livingston

Happy Thursday, book fam! Unfortunately I dropped the ball with this post - it's late, but I figured, better late than never. My father passed away unexpectedly on February 16th, and I've not been able to think about my blog since then. So I'm creating this post on February 25th and backdating it. The giveaway is still active!

Check out The Triumphant!

The Triumphant by Lesley Livingston

Book Three of The Defiant series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: February 12, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

The final book in the Valiant series takes Fallon and her warrior sisters on an epic journey from the corrupt Roman Republic to the wonder of the ancient world: Alexandria, Egypt.

“You are from a world, Fallon, that values honor over everything else. Rome is not that world.”

In the wake of their victorious fight to win back the Ludus Achillea, Fallon and her gladiatrix sisters have become the toast of the Republic. Only for Fallon, glory turns to ashes when she learns that Cai has been stripped of his Decurion rank and declared infamia, cast down to serve as one of Caesar’s gladiators. All because he chose his love for her over the life of his treacherous father during the ludus uprising.

But treachery in Rome runs far deeper than Fallon ever suspected. While she is fighting for Cai’s freedom, the unthinkable happens and the Republic begins to tear itself apart at the seams. In the chaos that follows, the Achillea gladiatrices lose any protection they might have had once and for all. They’re not the only ones. 

When Fallon discovers that Cleopatra is in grave danger, she and her sister Sorcha rally their war band in an attempt to spirit the Queen of Aegypt out of Rome, embarking on a remarkable journey that will take them to Alexandria—the wonder of the ancient world—and beyond. Far beyond. Along the way, Fallon will have to decide where her heart truly lies, as well as what—and who—she is willing to sacrifice to get there.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | The Ivy Bookshop

Check out the series:

  

(Click on the covers to go to Goodreads!)

About the Author:

Lesley Livingston is the author of Once Every Never, winner of the inaugural Copper Cylinder Award and shortlisted for the CLA Young Adult Book Award and the BC Stellar Book Award. She is also the author of the Wondrous Strange and Starling trilogies. She lives in Toronto.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Lesley's Top Five Moments of The Triumphant:

My top five moments while writing The Triumphant... in chronological order! 

First? Getting the gig! I knew I wanted Fallon’s story to be a trilogy and when my fabulous editrix Jessica at Razorbill agreed, I was thrilled. 

Second, sitting down in front of my trusty laptop, opening up a new document and typing the title page. That moment, truthfully, is always a mix of elation, anticipation... and sheer bloody-minded terror. Fun!

Third, writing the ultimate fate of a certain character that I’d known about since well before I’d even started writing the series. 

Fourth: choreography! Or, figuring out that one particular perfect moment in a fight sequence (and that one particular perfect moment in a kissing sequence...)

Fifth... getting to take Fallon and her friends and family (and foes!) all the way to the end of this journey. And knowing that they would have a fantastic loyal war band of readers coming with us along the way!

The Giveaway:

Thanks to Penguin Teen, I've got a paperback copy of The Valiant and The Defiant for one lucky winner! This will be open to USA only. Ends on 02/28, 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

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Stacking the Shelves (#321)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!

So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, February 10th to Saturday, February 16th?

In the mail:

  

My preordered hardcover of Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard

An ARC of Call It What You Want by Brigid Kemmerer

YAY, my preorder arrived! And an ARC of Brigid Kemmerer's next book with Bloomsbury. Thank you, Bloomsbury!

That's all I've got for this week! I posted two new giveaways. You can win a hardcover of Bloodwitch (I ended up with several hardcovers!), or a Sightwitch poster. I also posted my New Release Giveaway for February!

(Enter on Instagram!)

February 2019 New Release Giveaway!

Welcome to the February New Release Giveaway Hop! The February New Release Giveaway hop is hosted by It Starts At Midnight and FLYLēF. 

This month, I'm giving a February '19 book of your choice! Here are some examples:

(You are not limited to these below!)

The Giveaway:

Win a February book of your choice! Winner has 48 hours to respond to my email. The usual Giveaways rules apply.

Open INTERNATIONALLY! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reread Campaign and Giveaway: The Defiant by Lesley Livingston

Happy Thursday, fellow book lovers! It's another reread campaign day, this time for The Defiant! Plus, I've got a giveaway for you!

Check out The Defiant!

The Defiant by Lesley Livingston

Book Two of The Valiant series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: January 23, 2018

Summary (from Goodreads):

Gladiator Fallon and her warrior sisters must face off against a rival gladiator academy in this lush sequel to the highly anticipated historical fantasy The Valiant.

They call her "Victrix" now. Victory.

But winning the highest honor ever bestowed upon a gladiatrix in Rome has earned Fallon more deadly enemies outside the arena than she ever faced within it. And it is those dearest to Fallon who will pay the price for her success. 

Now, Fallon and her warrior sisters are thrust into a vicious conflict with a rival gladiator academy, one that will threaten not only Fallon's heart - and her love for Roman soldier Cai - but the very heart of the Roman Empire.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository | The Ivy Bookshop

Check out the series:

  

About the Author:

Lesley Livingston  is the author of Once Every Never, winner of the inaugural Copper Cylinder Award and shortlisted for the CLA Young Adult Book Award and the BC Stellar Book Award. She is also the author of the Wondrous Strange and Starling trilogies. She lives in Toronto.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

My Top Five Moments of The Defiant:

(I'm going to cheat a little... instead of moments, I'm going to list five things I loved about this book!)

5. Female friendships. This is a huge part of the series in general. Feminism is so important, in a bold yet subtle way. Fallon and her gal pals are so fierce!

4. Gladiator battles. I'll admit, some of them got pretty gore-y. Just a heads-up!

3. Secondary characters' romance. Elka and Quint! Love love love.

2. Political intrigue. Betrayals abound! I personally love it when books delve deep into politics, so this was pretty cool, especially given the time period.

1. Caius and Fallon. I SHIP THEM SO HARD! The romance in The Valiant was lovely, and the romance in The Defiant is too. (Also, hurray for no love triangle - not that there was one hinted, but it's always nice when none appears at all.) Read a swoon from The Defiant HERE!

The Giveaway:

Thanks to Penguin Teen, I've got a paperback copy of The Valiant and The Defiant for one lucky winner! This will be open to USA only. Ends on 02/28, 11:59 PM EST. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday (#320): Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Book One of the Serpent & Dove series

Publisher: HarperTeen

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Summary (from Goodreads):

For her sixteenth birthday, Louise le Blanc’s mother gave her three things: a sacrificial altar, a ritual knife, and a wicked scar.

Lou’s death would have ended the ancient war between the Church and witches, but Lou refuses to become a martyr. Forsaking her coven, she escapes to the gloomy city of Cesarine and hides her magic as a thief in the criminal underworld. But life in Cesarine has its own dangers. Huntsmen roam the city revered as holy men. Witches burn without trial. And the Archbishop, the Church’s austere patriarch, revels in violence.

As a huntsman, Reid Diggory lives by one verse: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. 

He's devoted his entire life to eradicating the occult and making his surrogate father, the Archbishop, proud. Finally given the chance to capture a witch of his own, Reid is devastated when a foul-mouthed thief thwarts him—and doubly devastated when she too disappears. Hell-bent on bringing her to justice, Reid vows she won't escape again. But when Lou tricks him into public scandal trying to avoid capture, the two are forced into an impossible situation—marriage.

Marriage to a huntsman could provide real protection from the witches—if Lou can convince Reid she isn’t one herself. The secret proves difficult to keep as Lou begins practicing magic in secret within the heart of the Church, determined to prepare for her mother’s inevitable return. As time passes, however, Lou discovers yet another danger lurking: her own growing feelings for her husband. But Reid is still dangerous. He’s just as likely to tie her to the stake as defend her if he learns her true identity. With enemies closing in—and more than her own life at stake—Lou must decide who she can trust before it's too late…and she's not the only one with a secret.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Ivy Bookshop

This sounds fantastic! And with a gorgeous cover, no less! I'm excited. =)

Top Ten Tuesday (38)

Happy Tuesday! Today I've decided to participate in Top Ten Tuesday, formerly hosted by Jamie at The Broke and the Bookish, now hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.

Today's topic is:

Favorite Couples In Books

Brigan & Fire -- these two will always be my favorite

Jin & Amani -- I love their chemistry!

Rene and Sophia -- one of my favorite hate-to-love romances ever!

Aelyx & Cara -- another great hate-to-love romance!

Fiske & Aelyn -- SUCH a great hate-to-love romance.

Xanthus & Attia -- a beautiful slow-burn romance.

Khalid & Shahrzad -- hate-to-love, slow-burn, combustible romance at its finest.

Jase & Sam -- these two are so cute with such sweet chemistry!

North & Sydelle -- super great hate-to-love, slow-burn romance!

Duval & Ismae -- again, a great hate-to-love, slow-burn romance.

What does this post tell you? That I love hate-to-love, slow-burn romances!